Air and gas mixer.



Patented Dec. I6, |902.V

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No; 7I'5,800. Patented Dec. I6, \902.

C. W. HINMAN.

-AIR AND GAS MIXER.

(Applicatouvled Apr. 15` 1902.-)

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AN.7l'5,810. Patented Dee. vI6, |902.

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(Ap'plieaeiop med Apr. 15, 1902.) (un Model.) 3 sheets-#sheet '3.

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Ni-TBD STATES CHARLES W. HINMAN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

AIR AND GAS MIXER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 715,800, dated December 16, 1902.

Application iiled April l5, 1902.

T0 @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. HINMAN, of Boston, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvementin Gas Lighting and Heating Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanyingr drawings, is a specication, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

'This invention relates to gas lighting and heating apparatus of that type employing a mixture of air and gas, the gas employed being ordinary illuminating-gas and commonly called city-gas.

The invention has for its object to improve the construction of the same to the end that measured volumes of air and gas may be simultaneously delivered by a suitable pump to a holder which is adapted to hold a variable volume of mixed air and gas under constant pressure and deliver the same to a burner; also, to improve the construction of thev pump, whereby it is especially adapted for simultaneously delivering measured volumes of air and gas to the holder; also, to provide means-as, for instance, a suitable valve-for regulating the delivery of air and gas from the pump to the holder, which is controlled or operated by the volume of mixed air and gas in said holder.

Figure l shows in side elevation and partial vertical section a gas lighting and heating apparatus embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is an under-side view of the bell of the pump, showing particularly the two compartments thereof. Fig. 3 is a side elevation and partial section of the holder, by which a variable volume of gas is held at aconstant pressure. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the holder shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the valve in the holder. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the hydraulic motor employed for operating the pump for drawing in supplies of air and gas.

The holder, which holds a variable volume of mixed air and gas under constant pressure, (see Figs. 1, 3, and-1,) is of any suitable size and shape and comprises, essentially, a stationary tank m, having a bottom Wall m3, to which a common delivery-pipe m from the pump is connected and from which the delivery-pipe o leads to the burners. A circular Serial No. l(\)3,0l8. (No model.)

or other shaped shell m4, of less dimensions than the stationary tank lm, is contained within said tank m and is secured to the bottom wall m3 thereof, to thereby provide an annular space between said shell and tank, which is adapted to be partially filled with water or other sealing liquid.

m5 represents a bell which is adapted to work up and down within the stationary tank, it being made of suitable dimensions to work in the annular space provided between the shell m4 and stationary tank m. A water seal is thus provided between the stationary tank and the bell m5, and a large gas compartmeut or chamber is provided for holding a variable volu me of gas under a constant pressure.

The common delivery-pipe m from the pump passes up through the bottom wall m3 of said holder and at a point a short distance above the bottom wall thereof has attached to it a cylindrical or other shaped sleeve o', which is disposed vertically and serves as a tubular support for the valve. The sleeve o has at its lower end a shortinwardly-projecting flange 02. A short piece of pipe 03 is screwed into or otherwise connected to the upper end of the sleeve o', which forms merely an upward extension or continuation of said sleeve.

The valve herein shown consists of a tube o4 of suitable diameter-to slide freely up and down in the.tubularvalve support provided for it, and said tubular valve o4 is made long enough to pass entirely through the valvesupport and projects up to the crown of the bell m5, and its upper end is attached to said crown of the bell m5, so that it will be positively moved up and down by said bell. The tube 0dr has a plurality of longitudinal openings 05, which are or maybe more or less V- shaped at each end, and said openings are made quite long, although not as long as the tubular-valve support, so that when the bell m5 is in its most elevated position said openings may be confined within said tubular support. As the bell descends the tubular valve o4 projects down through the tubular-valve support more or less, according to the position of the bell. In Fig. 3 the bell is shown in its lowermost position and the valve wide open, and in Fig. 4 said bell is shown in its upper- IOO most position and the valve is closed. It will be understood, however, that ordinarily the bell will not settle to the position shown in Fsr. 3.

To limit the upward movement of the bell, the lower end of the tubular valve o4 has an end piece oG attached to it, which strikes against the lower end of the tubular-valve support, and said end piece when in contact with the lower end of said tubular-valve support closes the passage to the holder. As the gas is taken from the delivery-pipe o the bell m5 will fall and open more or less the passage between the interior of the holder and the inlet-pipe m' by the tubular valve o4 sliding down the tubular-valve support a distance corresponding to the descent of the bell. Then as the Iiow of gas through the deliverypipe o ceases the bell 'm5 will be raised until it occupies its most elevated position,as shown in Fig. 5. lf butlittle gasis being taken from the delivery-pipe o, the bell will settle but a short distance before the inflow of gas will equal the outflow; but if a large quantity of gas is being taken from said pipe o the bell will settle farther. It will also be seen that the tubular-valve support and tubular valve o* working therein serve as a guide and support for the bell m5, guiding its up-and-down movements and supporting it against lateral movement relatively to the other parts.

The tubular valve operated by the rising and falling bell m5 constitutes the means for regulating the delivery of air and gas from the pump to the holder,and it willbe observed that said valve is controlled by the Volume of mixed air and gas in said holder, for as the volume ot mixed air and gas in the holder diminishes the valve will be opened and will remain open as long as the volume remains less than normal.

The weight ot' the bell mF of the holder provides the constant pressure which is required, and this pressure, it will be observed, will remain constant regardless of the volume of mixed air and gas contained in said holder.

The pump by which measured volumes of air and gas are simultaneously delivered to the holder will now be described, although my invention is not limited to the particular construction of pump herein shown.

Herein I have shown two pumps of like construction adapted to be operated alternately, and when machines are employed for supplying gas to alarge number of burnerslprefer to employ two pumps; but if the machines are employed for supplying gas to only a small number of burners one pump will be sufficient. \Vheu one pump is employed, the bell m of the holder will gradually settle to maintain the gas at a constant pressure while the pump is being operated to draw in supplies of air and gas, but will immediately rise when the pump begins to deliver supplies of air and gas to the holder. Therefore I do not desire to limit my invention to the employment of two pumps, as herein shown.

a represents a stationary tank adapted to contain water or other sealing liquid, and b the bell adapted to Work up and down therein, said parts being of any suitable shape and size.

c represents the cylinder of a hydraulic motor which is provided for lifting the bell, and, as herein shown, said cylinder c is disposed vertically within the stationary tank a and secured to the bottom wall thereof, or it may be otherwise supported in vertical position centrally within the stationary tank. The cylinder c will be made as long as required for the stroke of the bell, yet projecting above the level of the sealing liquid. A piston d is contained within the cylinder c, to which the piston-rod c is attached, which projects upward and is attached to the crown of the bell b.

The upper end of the cylinder c has secured to it a cap or end piece c', having a central hole through it for the piston-rod, and said cap or end piece has also one or more holes c2 through it, which provide exits for any water which may accidentally or otherwise enter the cylinder between the piston and said end piece. The upper end of the bell being thus connected with the piston-rod it will be seen that said bell is guided more or less in its up-and-down movements by the piston and by the piston-rod working in the end piece. At the lower end of the bell b a spider b is secured, which is formed or provided With a central circular portion h2, which embraces the cylinder c, the fit being such that the bell is free to move up and down, yet its lower end will be guided and supported against lateral movement by the cylinder.

By disposing the cylinder c within the tank a and providing the support b at the lower end of the bell it will be seen that said bell is properly guided, and no other guides such as are ordinarily employed are required.

A pipe fis connected to the lower end of the cylinder c for supplying water thereto, and said pipe is connected to a controllingvalve g, (see Fig. 6,) which may be of any suitable construction, and from said controlling-valve g a pipe 25 leads to a shut-off valve h, which also may be of any suitable construction, and from said shut-oit valve a pipe 26 leads to any suitable water-supply.

Referring to Fig. 6, an enlarged View of a controlling-valve g and shut-oit valve 7L is shown, said controlling-valve being adapted to control the supply of water to two hydraulic motors which may be employed, one for each tank a and a.

The controlling-valve shown in Fig. 6 comprises, essentially, a valve-case :2, having two valves 3 4 contained within it and adapted to open and close suitable Ways to control the passage of water to one or the other hydraulic motor.

The shut-od valve h has its valve-stem connected to suitable actuators 71, L, which are IIO adapted to be operated by the ,rising and falling bells b.

The bell b of the pump has within it a division-wall b3, (see Figs. l and 2,) extending from the top to a point at or near the bottom,

which divides said bell into two separate com-` partments. These compartments each vhave a predetermined cubic capacity,whereby predetermined quantities of air and gas may be measured preparatory to mixing them. The larger compartment (at the left of the division-wall b3) is employed for the air and the smaller compartment (at the right of said division-wall) is employed for the gas, and the cubic capacities ot" said chambers are predetermined to deliver to the holder measured quantities of air and gas simultaneously as the bell descends. The division-wall terminates substantially flush with the lower end of the bell, and consequently when the bell is contained in the tank and is working up and down therein both compartments of the bell are at all times separately water-sealed.

An air-pipe j is contained in the stationary tank, which terminates in the air-chamber ofthe bell b, and a gas-pipe k is likewise contained iu the stationary tank, which terminates in the gas-compartmentot' said bell b.

The air-pipej has attached to it at a point below the bottom of the tank a one end of a T-couplingj, from which a pipe y2 leads to a hollow shell js, and in said hollow shell a check-valve j* is provided for closing said pipe y2, but which is opened by the pressure of the bell b. The T-couplingj' at its lower end forms an inlet.for the air to the bell b and is provided with a check-valvej, which is opened by suction when the bell b is lifted and closed by the pressure ot' the bell.

The pipe 7c has attached toit ata point below the bottom of the tank da T-couplingk, from which a pipe k2 leads, which extends to a hollow shell 103, and a check-valve 7a4 is contained in said hollow shell, which closes said pipe k2 when the bell b rises and is opened by the pressure when the bell descends. A pipe 765 also leads from said T-coupling, which is connected with any suitable gas-supply by pipe k6.

A check-valve kl is contained in the T- coupling, adapted to normally close the inletpipe while the bell is descending and to be opened by suction when the bell is lifted.

As the bell is lifted by the hydraulic motor supplies of air and gas are drawn into their respective compartments, which are thereafter simultaneously delivered to the holder while the bell descends, and the volumes of air and gas thus delivered to the holder will be of a predetermined cubic capacity'.

The air and gas will be delivered to the holder only as the valve which is contained within the holder is operated, and as the operation of said valve is controlled by the volume of mixed air and gas in the holder it will be seen that the descent of the bell b will be thereby controlled.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a gas lighting and heating apparatus, a holder for holding a variable volu me of mixed air and gas under constant pressure, a delivery-pipe leading from it to the burner, a pump connected with said holder for simultaneously delivering measured volumes of air and gas thereto, air and gas inlets to said pump, meanscontrolled by the volume of mixed air and gas in said holder for regulating the delivery of air and gas thereto, and a motor for operating said pump, substantially as described.

2. In agas lightingand heating apparatus, a holder for holding a variable volume of mixed air and gas under constant pressure, a delivery-pipe leading from it to the burner, a pump connected with said holder for simultaneously delivering measured Volumes of air and gas thereto, air and gas inlets to said pump, a valve controlled by the volume of mixed air and gas in said holder for regulating the delivery of air aud gas thereto, and a motor for operating said pump, substantially as described.

3. In a gas lighting and heatingapparatus, a holder for holding a variable volu me of mixed air and gas under constant pressure, a delivery-pipe leading from it to the burner, a pump for simultaneously delivering measured volumes of air and gas, and means for connecting said pump with said holder comprising an air-pipe, a gas-pipe and a delivery-pipe common to both, means controlled by the volume of mixed air and gas in said holder for regulating the delivery of air and gas thereto, air and gas inlets to said pump, and a motor for operating said pump, substantially as described.

4. In a gaslighting and heating apparatus, a holder for holding a variable volume of mixed air and gas under constant pressure, a delivery-pipe leading from it to the burner, a pump for simultaneously delivering measured volumes of air and gas, and means for connecting said pump with said holder comprising an air-pipe, a gas-pipe and a delivery-pipe common to both, a valve at the exit of said delivery-pipe controlled by the volume of air and gas in said holder, air and gas inlets to said pump, and a motor for operating said pump, substantially as described.

5. In a gas lighting and heating apparatus, a holder for holding a variable volume of mixed air and gas under constant pressure compris- ICC IIO

IZO

ing a reservoir adapted to contain water and a bell working up and down therein, a pump connected with said holder for simultaneously delivering measured volumes of air and gas thereto, air and gas inlets to said pump and means operated by the bell of said holder for regulating the delivery of air and gas from said pump to said holder, and a motor for operating said pump, substantially as described.

6. In agas lighting and heating apparatus, a holder for holding a variable volume of mixed air and gas under constant pressure, a delivery-pipe leading from it tothe burner, a pump for simultaneously delivering measured volumes of air and gas to said bolder, a motor for operating said pump to draw in supplies of air and gas, and means controlled by the volume of mixed air and gas in the holder for regulating the simultaneous delivery of air and gas from said pump to said holder, substantially as described.

7. Inagaslightingandheatingapparatus,a holder for holding a variable volume of mixed air and gas under constant pressure, a delivery-pipe leading from it to the burner, a pump for simultaneously delivering measured volumes of air and gas, air and gas pipes connecting said pump with said holder, a checkvalve in each pipe, a motor for operating said pump to draw in supplies of air and gas, and means controlled by the volume of mixed air and gas in the holder for regulating the simultaneous delivery of air and gas from said pump to said holder, substantially as described.

8. In agas lighting and heating apparatus, a holder for the mixed air and gas, a deliverypipe leading from it to the burner, a pump for simultaneously delivering measured volumes of air and gas to said holder comprising a water-sealed two-compartment bell moving up and down in a reservoir, air and gas inlets respectively to the two compartments of the bell, a motor for raising said bell to draw air and gas into the respective compartments and means for connecting the two compartments of the bell with said holder, substantially as described.

9. In a gas lighting and heating apparatus, a holder for the mixed air and gas, a deliverypipe leading from it to the burner, a pump for simultaneously delivering measured volumes of air and gas to said holder comprising a Water-sealed two-compartment bell moving up and down in a reservoir, air and gas inlets respectively to the two compartments of the bell, a motor for raising said bell to draw air and gas into the respective compartments, means for connecting the two compartments of the bell with said holder, and means controlled by the volume of air and in said holder for regulating the delivery of air and gas from said pump to said bolder, substantially as described.

lO. In agas lighting and heating apparatus, a holder for the mixed air and gas, a deliverypipe leading from it to the burner, a pump for simultaneously delivering air and gas to said holder comprising a Water-sealed twocompartment bell moving up and down in a reservoir, air and gas inlets respectively to the two compartments of the bell, a motor for raising said bell to draw air and gas into the respective compartments, means for connecting the two compartments of the bell with said holder having a valve controlled by the volume of air and gas in said holder for regulating the delivery of air and gas from said pump to said holder, substantially as described. l

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES W. HINMAN.

Vitnesses:

B. J. NoYEs, J. L. HUToHINsoN. 

